Page 11 - WINGS OF AGRI-INNOVATIONS

Three-Tier IP Management Mechanism at ICAR For crop science based technologies, Zonal Technology Management Centre (ZTMC) was established at
the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), a premier agricultural research and teaching institute,
In 2006, ICAR launched its key IP management policy elements together with well-versed guidelines for recognized as the seat of the epochal green revolution in India. Later, a new component of Business Planning
“Intellectual Property Management and Technology Transfer/ Commercialization (IPM&TT/C)”. Under these and Development (BPD) was added to it under the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) of ICAR.
guidelines, commercial ethos in the transfer of skills and products were institutionalized through the following This led to the constitution of the ZTM and BPD Unit of IARI in 2009. It diligently handles IP protection
three-tier IP management mechanism in each one of its institutes: and technology commercialization at IARI, along with other zonal institutes. Commercialization of protected
1) Agro-Technology Management Centre (ATMC) at ICAR level; technology through public-private partnership models is also under its ambit. The Unit further provides
services for agribusiness incubation (ABI) activities and performs a mentorship role for agriculture innovators.
2) Zonal Technology Management Centres (ZTMC); and
The establishment of the ZTM& BPD Unit at IARI resulted in several positive outcomes in the context of the
3) Institute Technology Management Units (ITMU) protection of agricultural innovation and their commercialization. With regards to its first function, namely-
IP acquisition and protection, it has been facilitating appropriate protection of all technologies created by
This 3-tier mechanism ensures a decentralized and empowered system with handholding opportunity the ICAR-IARI scientists. This process starts right from the stage of advisory services to all scientists and
for other institutes by the ZTMCs, an upward-downward back and forth decision support, capability for researchers of IARI. There are proper mechanisms in place for meeting the scientists and researchers,
commercialization and public-interest decisions in technology transfer (TT). The ICAR keeps all IP assets and understanding their technology, suggesting the most suitable form of IP for their technology’s protection,
maintains relevant records related to IP, TT and commercialization in various ICAR institutions. and then guiding the scientists and researchers through the process of acquiring the most suitable form of

ATMC serves as the apex unit, which facilitates, coordinates and monitors the implementation of IPR and TT IPRs for protection of their knowledge assets.
policies across the ICAR establishments. ZTMCs handle pre-defined zones through their Business Planning Secondly, the ZTM and BPD Units are also actively engaged in technology commercialization by evaluating
and Development (BPD) Units and have regional roles in managing ICAR’s IP and TT activities. The ITMUs, the IP assets and identifying the potential licensees for particular technologies, whether the potential
created in each ICAR institute is headed by the institute’s director and provides decision-making support licensees be the micro, small or medium enterprises or even large enterprises. The technologies are then
system through the respective ITMCs. Researchers at ICAR institutions are encouraged to disclose their transferred via non-exclusive licenses. As per the ICAR Guidelines, 2018, the technology commercialization
inventions to ITMU, which evaluates the novelty of the research, patentability of the invention or respective role has now been transferred to Agrinnovate India Ltd (AgIn), incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956
criteria of other IPR protection (e.g. plant variety protection, trademark, design protection, etc.) and pursues (No. 1 of 1956) on 19 October 2011. It acts as an effective interface between Indian Council of Agricultural
th
the process of IPR protection and maintenance, accordingly. Research (ICAR- an autonomous organization under DARE) on one side and on the other the stakeholders of
Academia - Industry Cooperation at ICAR-IARI: Public-Private Partnership agricultural sector (farmers; public and private sector firms; R&D organizations; educational institutions- all
of these at National and International level) for all important purpose of securing, sustaining and promoting
In the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), collaboration with industry was conceptualised in the late global agricultural development.
1980s and sporadic transfer of technologies (TOT) began to take place. A business cell was established in IARI
and the transfer of technologies started through NRDC in the late 90s. However, the most vital technologies Thirdly, the ZTM & BPD Unit is actively performing the nurturing role of the business incubators as well.
emerging from the institute were the new improved plant varieties, hybrids and their parental lines, which As an incubator, Pusa Krishi was set-up in the Unit itself, nurturing Agri start-ups by providing curated and
were freely available to all till the implementation of the PPV&FR Act in the country. With time, the new mentor-driven trainings on the aspects of managing and growing businesses, IP protection, market support,
trends of globalization in trade and intellectual property protection have enabled ICAR institutes and State pilot opportunities, etc. To promote this culture of innovation and consequently to ensure employment
Agricultural Universities (SAUs) to build adequate capacity/ facilities for the conceptualization, development, generation and economic prosperity, the ZTM & BPD Unit offers furnished office and lab spaces, and
licensing and commercialization of new technologies and products, thereby instilling a culture of Intellectual specialized equipment to incubates, as shared resources within the incubator. Pusa Krishi contributin
Property (IP) protection. significan crea robus entrepr ecosyst countr c
mandat ‘Start ‘Mak progr Governmen India.
Specific policies and guidelines have been laid down by the ICAR to enable its institutions to work with private
partners for consultancy and collaborative research and technology development. Additionally, policies have Creating a Culture of Intellectual Property Management: The Early Milestones for
also been formulated for IP ownership and licensing, Right Sharing Core Research Facilities, ICAR students as Technology Commercialization
interns in the private sector and deputation of ICAR scientists/ innovators to the industry.
Performing these crucial roles, ZTM and BPD Unit of IARI has made remarkable advances in a short span
ZTM & BPD Unit at IARI: Nurturing & Protecting Agri Innovation of time. IARI has filed a total of 127 patent applications from 1950 to 2020 of which 70 patents have been
granted. Likewise, 61 plant variety registration applications were filed and 37 have been registered. In the
As a result of the proactive role of the ICAR in managing its technologies across all its institutes in India and context of trademarks, 26 trademarks applications were filed through the efforts of IARI, which include 2
creation of Zonal Agro-Technology Management Centres (ZTMC) at the zonal level to support respective well-known marks and among them 13 trademarks have been registered. Regarding copyrights, 8 copyright
institutes, there has been a remarkable progress in the protection of agri innovation. This initiative led to the applications have also been filed by the Unit, of which 7 have been registered. It is a creditable indicator of
establishment of ten such units across India till date, based on specific subject areas. the immense potential for IP acquisition and commercialization in the area of agricultural innovation.

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